Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kanglung Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kanglung

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $103 in Kanglung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $171 in Kanglung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $238 in Kanglung.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 1164% more expensive than in Kanglung, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Kanglung 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$203

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$805

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$200

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.1

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$23.78

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.50

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.49

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.53

$0.52 BTN 43.84

313.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.14

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.83

$1.23 BTN 104

129.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

$2.16 BTN 182

325.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

$2.18 BTN 184

323.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$215

$2.19 BTN 185

477.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

$2.17 BTN 183

35.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.83

$2.16 BTN 183

-26.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.76

$2.14 BTN 181

3.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.15

$2.23 BTN 188

5.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.86

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.63

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.07

$0.97 BTN 82.3

27.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.58

$0.98 BTN 82.6

23.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.2

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.74

$1.46 BTN 123

15.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.13

$1.03 BTN 86.7

168.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$505

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$89.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$62.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.13

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.8K MX$387.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.8K MX$438.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$90.7 MX$1,540

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.19 MX$428

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,169

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$499

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.6

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$226 MX$3,834

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$805

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$738

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,363

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,552

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,943

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kanglung: September 7, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Playa del Carmen vs Kanglung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen and Kanglung differ by about 1164% in total monthly costs ($1,305 vs $103 including rent). Kanglung is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,958 in Playa del Carmen and $155 in Kanglung to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 171% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $103 in Kanglung – a 1164% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $103 in Kanglung versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kanglung but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kanglung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kanglung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1164% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.